Thread: D2, how strong is the body ?

Originally Posted by Rosscoe68

While out running ammuck in the state forest today,testing out the hill decent control again, (never ceases to amaze me how nifty it works), wifey asked me how safe the D2 would be if we ,heaven forbid, did roll over. Anyone got any ideas. In some of my previous 4x4's older and smaller i have run rollcages internally for this even though fortunately never had need for it (yet!). guess the question is do i need to look at a rool bar for the D2. Will be doing some reasonably regular offroading, not rock sliding, usualy hillclimbing.

This is one of the good arguments for fitting a good quality cargo barrier, they can help to prevent the roof from completely caving in on rollover.

Well, It does depend on the speed and the actual impact, BUT there is very little roll over protection for these unless fitted with a cargo barrier, then it is improved quite a lot. Obviously a rollcage is the best option but not allways practical. Defenders and county's are possibly the worst for roll overs, as the only thing holding up the roof seems to be the back of the seats...

JC

Yeah, my SeriesII would be despirately weak also in an accident. I think the cab would rip out before the seatbelts did anything. I'm actually quite serious about that too.

I think for a straight rollover the Disco's are ok from the pics I've seen, but nothing flash. I also think that to go over backwards or forwards would flatten the roof straight away. The B/C pillars seem to be ok, but a lot of the force seems to also get concentrated into the A pillar in a roll due to the engine and rocking on the front of the roof etc, and so the A pillars cop a hiding.

thanks for replies huys, will look at a roll bar with some mesh to keep the stuff in the back i think.

HAve a look at the pics here: 2004 LANDROVER DISCOVERY 4LTR V8 WRECKING NOW ALL PARTS - eBay Discovery, Land Rover, Range Rover, Cars, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 08-Jan-08 17:37:05 AEDST)

they seem to hold together pretty well compared to defenders. When defenders roll, the first thing to snap is the cast alloy windscreen frame, directly infront of the driver. i have seen several where the roofs have seperated completely off the frame.

Discos are like any landcruiser, rangie, patrol etc when they roll. The a pillars get pushed in, the center of the roof above the windscreen gets bows, screen smashes covers everything in tiny bits of glass, and the roof crushes in and stops a few inches from your face. There is normally a straight line from the front of the bonnet, to the b pillar (behind the front doors). Very rarely would someone get more then a few glass cuts, bumps and bruises.

Cargo barriers are not a roll cage, regardless what milford say. They do however, stop things in the very back coming foward and hitting you. I wouldnt bother with a rollcage unless you are doing extremely silly things at high speed.

Andy

If you are a bit paranoid with the Disco get a custom made frame made of 75 mm pipe and weld a mesh on it for protecting you from the cargo.
My only concern with the Disco is how vulnerable are the door panels and side of the vehicle if you like to keep it in relative nice condition.
With my old 109 I used to drive close to the lantana bushes and nothing happens. With the Disco is 4 hour buffing the paint or a spray job. Some times I am tempted to fit aluminum check plates above the panels.
Cheers

I was just thinking that I had recently seen photos on here somewhere of a Disco for sale as a wreck which had been rolled - I see that Ron has already posted a link to the ad.

I see a lot of Toyotas in Kalgoorlie that have been put on their roof. It seems to be a common pastime around here, with so many company vehicles and hire cars floating around the mines. Compared to many of them, I think that Disco has stood up quite well.